Brimfield man pleads guilty to armed burglary

By Dave O'Brien | Staff writer Published: November 18, 2012 4:00 AM

A Brimfield man faces three to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to an armed burglary in Shalersville in July.

Christopher L. Devine, 31, of 2206 Meloy Road, remains in the Portage County jail on $150,000 cash bond pending sentencing in Portage County Common Pleas Court Judge Laurie Pittman's courtroom. He recently pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, for possessing a gun during a burglary in the 9200 block of Coit Road in Shalersville on July 27.

Portage County Sheriff David Doak previously said detectives were called to a residence in the 9200 block of Coit Road in Shalersville at 11 a.m. the day of the burglary after residents arrived home to find that a break-in had occurred and multiple items were missing.

At 12:30 p.m. that same day, sheriff's deputies stopped a car driven by Christopher Devine's brother, Robert E. Devine III, 39, of 2501 Meloy Road, Brimfield, on Tallmadge Road in Rootstown after a resident reported a suspicious vehicle.

Robert Devine allegedly had stolen items matching the description of property taken during the Shalersville burglary in his vehicle and was arrested. Further investigation revealed Christopher Devine had also been in the car but bailed out after seeing sheriff's deputies in the area.

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Christopher Devine later was arrested on a warrant, according to the Portage County Sheriff's Office.

Robert Devine is charged with complicity to aggravated burglary, also a first-degree felony, in connection with the alleged burglary in Shalersville.